Expansible frame and support



Dec. 7, 1937. L. J. JAGUS 2,101,500

EXPANSIBLE FRAME AND SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 7, 1937. J JAGUS EXPANS-IBLE FRAME AND SUPPORT Filed May 17, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR. c/dfJ/S,

/ Zea)? RNEY Patented Dec. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT .FFEQE EXRANSIBLE FRAME AND SUPPORT Leon J. Jagus, Chicago, llll.

Application May 17, 1937, Serial No. 143,183

'7 Claims.

My invention relates to sign or card frames and more particularly of an expansible type and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein described and claimed.

It is an object of the invention to provide a frame in which paired side frame members are simultaneously moved to accommodate a card or sign of different sizes.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel construction of equalizer for eifecting movements of the frame pieces.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel support for the frame, embodying a hinge joint permitting adjustment of the frame to various angles for better display of a card or sign.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will be apparent from the following description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective View of my frame.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the frame portion thereof.

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4& of Figure 2, enlarged.

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 2 illustrating a modified form of the frame. I

Figure 6 is a plan view of one of the equalizer members employed in the modified form.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a supporting stand for use with either forms of the frames.

Figure 8 is an elevation of the hinge joint.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view thereof.

Figures 10 and 11 are cross sectional views through the slide members showing modifications of their formations.

There is illustrated in Figure 1 a stand l0 upon which there is supported an adjustable frame H the sides of which are expansible as indicated in dotted lines.

The stand 40 includes a stem 12 which may be of any approved contour and length and upon the upper end there is welded or otherwise secured a plate I3. The plate l3 affords mounting of the frame as will now be described.

The frame ll comprises two pairs of channelshaped bars lfi-lt and I5i5, the pair l ll4 being arranged vertically to the bars 15-4 5. Respective pairs of bars are suitably spaced apart, in parallel relation, but in contacting relation at their points of crossing as indicated at It. At the several points 16, the bars are welded or otherwise secured to retain the bar elements in proper rigid relation. The plate It is of a width to fit between the upright bars l4 and welded to the cross bars l5--i5. Thus the bars i 3ll and l5-I5 are rigidly supported upon the stem I2.

The bars I4M and 15-45 are of the same dimensions and include inwardly directed flanges ii for guidance of a slide bar it, as will be described.

The frame l 5 includes side and frame pieces iii-- and 2l-22 which are of U-shaped formation, as viewed in cross section, and secured medially thereof is a spacer 23 the ends of which are bent at right angles, as at 2 The ends 2 are of a length greater than the walls 2?; of the frame pieces, so as to project therebeyond, for a purpose as will presently appear. The spacer members 23 are of lesser width than the frame pieces l922 and therefore a recess 26 is provided between the spacers 23 and respective walls 25 for reception of a card or sign to be displayed. The ends 26 afford support or backing to the card or sign.

'The end frames l920 and the side frames 2i22 each have fixed thereto a slide bar l8, which is slidable in respective channel bars i i-4t and l5l5, and preferably the slide bars 98 are formed with a right angularly extended foot 2?, adapted to seat flatly upon the inner face of respective spacer members 23, and secured by welding or otherwise. Thus, the frame portions iQ-Ell and 2i22 are slidably retained and in order to restrict too free movements, each of the channel bars ii-l l and l5i5 has a friction device 28. The friction device, in the present instance, comprises a leaf spring 29, the ends of which are anchored to the wall of respective bars, and intermediate the length of the spring, it is bowed slightly so as to project through an aper ture 3% formed in the wall for contact with the slide bars H3.

The plate I3 is apertured medially of the frame and has a bolt mounted therein extending transversely of the bars i i-4 1i and I5I5, the bolt being of a length projecting slightly beyond the bars on both sides and pivotally mounted on respective ends of the bolt, there is an actuator arm 32. The ends of the bolt may be headed in any approved manner to retain the arms in position. Each arm 32 has oppositely disposed slots 33, beginning at a point adjacent the pivot bolt 3i, extending longitudinally of the arm and terminating adjacent respective ends of the arm.

Each slide bar l8 has a headed pin 34, rigidly fixed to the bar at a point opposite respective frame ends or sides, the pin being slidable throughout the length of the slot complemental thereto. Thus, movement of the end or side frames will be equalized in their opposite movements, and it will be noted that the actuator arms 32 may partake of a rotary movement of approximately 160 degrees, which would be the case when the frame ends or sides are moved to their greatest adjustment.

The frame portion 20 is slotted as at 35 to admit the stem l2 therethrough and obviously,

the frame 20 is free to move along the stem to its various adjusted positions.

In Figure 5 I have shown a frame constructed as before described with the omission of the stand, and the provision of a different type of actuator arms. In the present instance, the frame will be suspended by chains 36 or similar SHSPEDSlOIl means.

The channel bars 31-38 are arranged as described in connection with the bars l4-|5, and across the back wall of the bars 31-31, a plate 39 is secured. The plate is aperturedat its medial portion, for mounting'of a pivot bolt 40, and upon respective ends of the bolt there is mounted an actuator arm 4| and 42.

It will be noted that the channel bars 31 are of a lesser length than the bars 38 for the purpose of providing a rectangular frame, and therefore the actuator arms 4| and 42 are of lengths approximately that of their complemental channel bars.

The actuator arms 4l42 have an ogee curvature and inwardly of each longitudinal edge thereof, slots 43 and 44 are formed extending parallel to the edges thereof. A pin 45 on the slide bars l8 associated with the end frame members 46 traverses the slot 43 while the pin 4'! of the side frame members 48 follows the slot 44 of the arm '43; The actuator arms in this form only make a rotative movement about their pivot bolt of approximately 30 degrees, the adjustment being accomplished by the sliding relation between the pins 45-45 and 41-41 within their respective slots.

V In Figures '7 to 9, I have illustrated a form of support for the frames, permitting angular adjustment from the vertical to more readily display a card carried by the frame. 7

The stem I2 is shown as cylindrical and screw threaded as at '49, for engagement in a threaded socket 50. The socket 50 is hingedly "connected between a pair of ears 5|, by a pi'n'tle 52. The ears 5| are formed as an integral part of a body member 53, the body having a threaded bore 54 for reception of a threaded stem55 'of the base 'I 0.

From a consideration of Figure 9, itwill be seen that the socket 5D is rounded at one corner as at 56, the diametrically opposite corner being right angularly formed as at 51 and abutting the body member 53. Thus the socket may swing upon the pivot pin in but one direction from the vertica'L'as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 7.

Angular adjustment'of the frame with "respect to its base may be accomplished by unscrewing of the stem 55, moving the socket upon its pivot'to the point of adjustment and then screwing the stem 55 back into impingement with the base of the socket 50.

The channel and slide bars may have various shapes, as viewed in cross section, and in Figures 10 and 11, I have shown modified forms thereof.

In Figure 10, the channel bar 58 is of triangular formation and the slide bar 59 is similarly shaped for sliding engagement therewith. In Figure 11, the channel bar 60 is constructed as described in connection with Figures 2 and 5, but the slide bar 61 has an I-beam formation. While I have shown and described preferred forms of my invention this is by way of illustration only, and I consider as my own, all such modifications in structure as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. An expansible frame for supporting a display card comprising frame sections, each section having a slide bar, a channel bar slidably receiving each slide bar, oscillatable arm members positioned outwardly of respective channel bars, each arm having a longitudinally extended slot adjacent its ends, and a pin on each slide bar movable throughout the length of respective complemental slots.

2. An expansible frame for supporting a display card comprising a frame of channel bars, the bars being arranged in parallel pairs, one pair being positioned in crossed relation to the other and rigidly secured, a slide bar within each channel bar, a frame section rigidly connected with each slide bar, oscillatable arms positioned outwardly of respective pairs of channel bars, each arm having a longitudinally extended slot adjacent the ends, and a pin on each slide bar movable along respective complemental slots.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein friction means between the channel and slide bars prevent undue sliding movement of the slide bars.

4. An expansible frame for supporting a display card comprising a frame of paired channel bars, one pair being positioned in crossed relation to the other and rigidly secured, a slide bar within each channel bar, a frame section rigidly connected 'with each slide bar, oscillatable arms positioned outwardly of respective pairs of channel bars, each arm having a substantially ogee curvature, each arm having a slot extending parallel to each longitudinal edge, and a pin oneach slide bar movable along respective complemental'slots.

5. An expansible frame for supporting a display card comprising a frame of paired channel bars, one pair being positioned in crossed relation to the other and rigidly secured a standard connected with the frame for such support thereof, a slide bar Within each channel bar, a frame section rigidly connected upon the'outer end of each slide bar, oscillatable arms for each pair of channel bars, pivoted medially of the frame, each arm having a longitudinally extended slot adjacent its ends, and a pin on each slide bar positioned adjacent respective frame sections and movable along respective complemental slots.

6. An expansible frame for supporting display cards comprising a frame of paired channel bars, one pair being positioned in crossed relation to the other and rigidly secured, a standard connected with the frame for support thereof, a slide bar within each channel bar, a frame section rigidly'connected upon the outer end of each slide bar, said frame sections being U-shaped in cross section, a spacer member secured medially in each sectionyof lesser width than the frame sec- 

